Fessland Lake in Beltrami County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Beltrami County, Minnesota, is where Fessland Lake sits. It stands 1,273 feet above sea level. About 17 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. On size it sits at the modest end of our Beltrami County list. Little Rock at 5 miles is the nearest place to stop. Then Red Lake, 8.2 miles, and Redby, 12 miles. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Fessland Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. County-wide records name walleye, yellow perch, northern pike, largemouth bass and white sucker. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. At Fessland Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 67°F in July and bottoms out near 3°F in January. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. Winter locks it down, and mid April brings it back. Open water usually runs from mid April until about mid November. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. The season on Fessland Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. If the gate is shut, Barr Lake at 0.6 miles is the nearest alternative. Ask locally about Fessland Lake if anything is unclear.